Pahaska Skipper

Hesperia pahaska is a year-round resident mostly on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains north to Alberta and south to Mexico (Scott 1986). Habitats are desert grassland, chaparral, open woodland and prairie hills. Host plants are grass species Bouteloua gracilis and Erioneuron pulchellum. Eggs are laid on or near the host plant singly. Individuals overwinter as larvae. There is one flight each year in the northern part of the range with approximate flight time June 15-early July, and several flights in the southern part of the range with the approximate flight time April 15- Oct. 15 (Scott 1986).

Adults sip nectar and mud,. Males perch for females (Scott, 1986).

Hesperia pahaska, the Pahaska skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae.

It is found from North America in a narrow belt of states extending from Texas to North Dakota, just reaching Canada in southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The wingspan is 28–33 mm. The flight period is from June to early July in the northern U.S. Its habitats include desert grassland, chaparral, open woodland and prairie hills.

The larvae feed on blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), fluff grass (Erioneuron pulchellum), Poaceae species, and Tridens pulchella.